Target Samples (target + sample)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Sequencing of DSM-IV criteria of nicotine dependence

ADDICTION, Issue 8 2009
Denise B. Kandel
ABSTRACT Aims To determine whether there is a sequence in which adolescents experience symptoms of nicotine dependence (ND) as per the DSM-IV. Design A two-stage design was implemented to select a multi-ethnic target sample of adolescents from a school survey of 6th,10th graders from the Chicago Public Schools. The cohort was interviewed at home five times with structured computerized interviews at 6-month intervals over a 2-year period. Participants Subsample of new tobacco users (n = 353) who had started to use tobacco within 12 months prior to wave 1 or between waves 1 and 5. Measurements and statistical methods Monthly histories of DSM-IV symptoms of ND were obtained. Log-linear quasi-independence models were estimated to identify the fit of different cumulative models of progression among the four most prevalent dependence criteria (tolerance, impaired control, withdrawal, unsuccessful attempts to quit), indexed by specific symptoms, by gender and race/ethnicity. Findings Pathways varied slightly across groups. The proportions who could be classified in a progression pathway not by chance ranged from 50.7% to 68.8%. Overall, tolerance and impaired control appeared first and preceded withdrawal; impaired control preceded attempts to quit. For males, tolerance was experienced first, with withdrawal a minor path of entry; for females withdrawal was experienced last, tolerance and impaired control were experienced first. For African Americans, tolerance by itself was experienced first; for other groups an alternative path began with impaired control. Conclusions The prevalence and sequence of criteria of ND fit our understanding of the neuropharmacology of ND. The order among symptoms early in the process of dependence may differ from the severity order of symptoms among those who persist in smoking. [source]


Operator-oriented CRS interpolation

GEOPHYSICAL PROSPECTING, Issue 6 2009
German Hoecht
ABSTRACT In common-reflection-surface imaging the reflection arrival time field is parameterized by operators that are of higher dimension or order than in conventional methods. Using the common-reflection-surface approach locally in the unmigrated prestack data domain opens a potential for trace regularization and interpolation. In most data interpolation methods based on local coherency estimation, a single operator is designed for a target sample and the output amplitude is defined as a weighted average along the operator. This approach may fail in presence of interfering events or strong amplitude and phase variations. In this paper we introduce an alternative scheme in which there is no need for an operator to be defined at the target sample itself. Instead, the amplitude at a target sample is constructed from multiple operators estimated at different positions. In this case one operator may contribute to the construction of several target samples. Vice versa, a target sample might receive contributions from different operators. Operators are determined on a grid which can be sparser than the output grid. This allows to dramatically decrease the computational costs. In addition, the use of multiple operators for a single target sample stabilizes the interpolation results and implicitly allows several contributions in case of interfering events. Due to the considerable computational expense, common-reflection-surface interpolation is limited to work in subsets of the prestack data. We present the general workflow of a common-reflection-surface-based regularization/interpolation for 3D data volumes. This workflow has been applied to an OBC common-receiver volume and binned common-offset subsets of a 3D marine data set. The impact of a common-reflection-surface regularization is demonstrated by means of a subsequent time migration. In comparison to the time migrations of the original and DMO-interpolated data, the results show particular improvements in view of the continuity of reflections events. This gain is confirmed by an automatic picking of a horizon in the stacked time migrations. [source]


Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry of 4-sulfophenyl isothiocyanate-derivatized peptides on AnchorChipÔ sample supports using the sodium-tolerant matrix 2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone and diammonium citrate

RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY, Issue 6 2005
Leon P. Oehlers
The reagent 4-sulfophenyl isothiocyanate (SPITC) is an effective, stable, and inexpensive alternative to commercially available reagents used in the N-terminal sulfonation of peptides for enhanced postsource decay (PSD) in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometric (MALDI-TOFMS) analyses. However, suppression of ionization of sulfonated peptides due to sample and matrix contaminants such as sodium can be a problem when using prestructured MALDI target sample supports, such as the Bruker Daltonics AnchorChipÔ. We show that use of the salt-tolerant matrix 2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone containing diammonium citrate (THAP/DAC) as an alternative to , -cyanohydroxycinnamic acid (HCCA) reduces the need for extensive washing of ZipTip-bound peptides or additional on-target sample clean-up steps. Use of the THAP/DAC matrix results in selective ionization of sulfonated peptides with greater peptide coverage, as well as detection of higher mass derivatized peptides, than was observed for HCCA or THAP alone. The THAP/DAC matrix is quite tolerant of sodium contamination, with SPITC-peptides detectable in preparations containing up to 50,mM NaCl. In addition, THAP/DAC matrix was found to promote efficient PSD fragmentation of sulfonated peptides. We demonstrated the utility of using the THAP/DAC MALDI matrix for peptide sequencing with DNA polymerase , tryptic peptide mixture, as well as tryptic peptides derived from Xiphophorus maculatus brain extract proteins previously separated by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE). Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Operator-oriented CRS interpolation

GEOPHYSICAL PROSPECTING, Issue 6 2009
German Hoecht
ABSTRACT In common-reflection-surface imaging the reflection arrival time field is parameterized by operators that are of higher dimension or order than in conventional methods. Using the common-reflection-surface approach locally in the unmigrated prestack data domain opens a potential for trace regularization and interpolation. In most data interpolation methods based on local coherency estimation, a single operator is designed for a target sample and the output amplitude is defined as a weighted average along the operator. This approach may fail in presence of interfering events or strong amplitude and phase variations. In this paper we introduce an alternative scheme in which there is no need for an operator to be defined at the target sample itself. Instead, the amplitude at a target sample is constructed from multiple operators estimated at different positions. In this case one operator may contribute to the construction of several target samples. Vice versa, a target sample might receive contributions from different operators. Operators are determined on a grid which can be sparser than the output grid. This allows to dramatically decrease the computational costs. In addition, the use of multiple operators for a single target sample stabilizes the interpolation results and implicitly allows several contributions in case of interfering events. Due to the considerable computational expense, common-reflection-surface interpolation is limited to work in subsets of the prestack data. We present the general workflow of a common-reflection-surface-based regularization/interpolation for 3D data volumes. This workflow has been applied to an OBC common-receiver volume and binned common-offset subsets of a 3D marine data set. The impact of a common-reflection-surface regularization is demonstrated by means of a subsequent time migration. In comparison to the time migrations of the original and DMO-interpolated data, the results show particular improvements in view of the continuity of reflections events. This gain is confirmed by an automatic picking of a horizon in the stacked time migrations. [source]


Roman Period fetal skeletons from the East Cemetery (Kellis 2) of Kellis, Egypt

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OSTEOARCHAEOLOGY, Issue 5 2005
M. W. Tocheri
Abstract Much can be learned about the religious ideology and mortuary patterns as well as the demographic and health profiles of a population from archaeological human fetal skeletons. Fetal skeletons are rare, however, largely due to poor preservation and recovery, misidentification, or non-inclusion in general burial populations. We present an analysis of 82 fetal/perinatal skeletons recovered from Kellis 2, a Roman Period cemetery dated to the third and fourth centuries AD, located in the Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt. Most of the fetal remains were individually wrapped in linen and all were buried among the general cemetery population in a supine, east,west orientation with the head facing to the west. Gestational age estimates are calculated from diaphysis lengths using published regression and Bayesian methods. The overall similarity between the fetal age distributions calculated from the regression and Bayesian methods suggests that the correlation between diaphysis length and gestational age is typically strong enough to avoid the ,regression' problem of having the age structure of reference samples adversely affecting the age distribution of target samples. The inherent bias of the regression methods, however, is primarily reflected in the gestational age categories between 36 and 42 weeks corresponding with the expected increase in growth variation during the late third trimester. The results suggest that the fetal age distribution at Kellis 2 does not differ from the natural expected mortality distribution. Therefore, practices such as infanticide can be ruled out as having a significant effect on the observed mortality distribution. Moreover, the Kellis 2 sample is well represented in each gestational age category, suggesting that all premature stillbirths and neonatal deaths received similar burial rites. The age distribution of the Kellis 2 fetal remains suggests that emerging Christian concepts, such as the ,soul' and the ,afterlife', were being applied to everyone including fetuses of all gestational ages. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in archaeometric research

MASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS, Issue 1 2010
Martín Resano
Abstract Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) is a solid sampling technique in continuous expansion in all types of research fields in which direct multi-elemental or isotopic analysis is required. In particular, this technique shows unique characteristics that made its use recommended in many archaeometric applications, where valuable solid artifacts are often the target samples, because it offers flexibility to achieve spatially resolved information with high detection power and a wide linear range, in a fast and straightforward way, and with minimal sample damage. The current review provides a systematic survey of publications that reported the use of LA-ICPMS in an archaeological context, highlights its main capabilities and limitations and discusses the most relevant parameters that influence the performance of this technique for this type of application. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., Mass Spec Rev 29:55,78, 2010 [source]


Geochemistry of Darwin glass and target rocks from Darwin crater, Tasmania, Australia

METEORITICS & PLANETARY SCIENCE, Issue 3 2008
Kieren T. Howard
Target rocks at Darwin crater are quartzites and slates (Siluro-Devonian, Eldon Group). Analyses show 2 groups of glass, Average group 1 is composed of: SiO2 (85%), Al2O3 (7.3%), TiO2 (0.05%), FeO (2.2%), MgO (0.9%), and K2O (1.8%). Group 2 has lower average SiO2 (81.1%) and higher average Al2O3 (8.2%). Group 2 is enriched in FeO (+1.5%), MgO (+1.3%) and Ni, Co, and Cr. Average Ni (416 ppm), Co (31 ppm), and Cr (162 ppm) in group 2 are beyond the range of sedimentary rocks. Glass and target rocks have concordant REE patterns (La/Lu = 5.9,10; Eu/Eu* = 0.55,0.65) and overlapping trace element abundances. 87Sr/86Sr ratios for the glasses (0.80778,0.81605) fall in the range (0.76481,1.1212) defined by the rock samples. ,-Nd results range from ,13.57 to ,15.86. Nd model ages range from 1.2,1.9 Ga (CHUR) and the glasses (1.2,1.5 Ga) fall within the range defined by the target samples. The 87Sr/86Sr versus 87Rb/86Sr regression age (411 ± 42 Ma) and initial ratio (0.725 ± 0.016), and the initial 43Nd/144Nd ratio (0.51153 ± 000011) and regression age (451 ± 140 Ma) indicate that the glasses have an inherited isotopic signal from the target rocks at Darwin crater. Mixing models using target rock compositions successfully model the glass for all elementsexcept FeO, MgO, Ni, Co, and Cr in group 2. Mixing models using terrestrial ultramafic rocks fail to match the glass compositions and these enrichments may be related to the projectile. [source]


High frequency of false-positive signals in a real-time PCR-based "Plus/Minus" assay

APMIS, Issue 1 2009
FOROUGH L. NOWROUZIAN
Molecular biological methods using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for detection of bacterial and viral genes in different environments have been developed into assays from different commercial sources. Applied Biosystems include and support two applications with their TaqMan instrument: the "Plus/Minus" and the "Allelic Discrimination" assays. These approaches are RT-PCR based, use short primers and fluorescent-labeled TaqMan probes and include three processes: a pre-read run, a PCR-amplification run, and a post-read run. In the "Plus/Minus" assay, samples and controls (distilled water) are loaded into the instrument, which calculates a positive or a negative outcome based on differences in signals between samples and the controls. When testing the "Plus/Minus" assay for detection of usp genes encoding a uropathogenic specific protein in Escherichia coli, an inordinately high proportion of false-positive signals was observed. This was shown to be due to a serious methodological deficiency. Our observations indicate that an adequate no-template control closely matching the target samples in all aspects, including amount of DNA, is required to establish a correct threshold in the pre-read run that forms the basis for further calculations in the post-read run of the "Plus/Minus" assay. [source]